Craig Edwards has made a wonderful name for himself as a photographer of our part of the west.
Craig comes from a famous Big Sandy family and has opened his own gallery on Highway 87 in Big Sandy.
Western art comes in all genres imaginable. It can be the flamboyant shoot 'em up art of Charlie Russell to the wonderful pastels of Ace Powell. It can be the Bear Paw water colors of Clyde Aspivig or the sadness in the William Standing paintings. It can range from Lucus to the bronzes of Bob Scriver.
Often when looking at art, we forget the photographer and yet they have been around here as long as the oil or water color painter. A wonderful photographer lived in Miles City and photographed early Yellowstone Park, the greatness of the cowboy, chuck wagon and all the settlers moving into the area. Another photographer took glorious pictures in Glacier National Park and tinted them to look like they were in color. His photos are in great demand yet.
So, when Craig Edwards started photographing things, it was a natural extension of the western art we all know and love so much.
"I started doing photography in high school," said Edwards. I was working on the Annual and Larry Myers taught me how to do things in the dark room and got me interested in photography."
So interested that to this day when farmer Craig is on the tractor or combine, he always has his camera with him.
But that is getting a little ahead of the story.
"My real interest is in art and history," added Edwards. "In country school, Helen Hashley taught Art History in a one room school house because she thought we should be exposed to art and that was very fortunate for me."
Edwards said that it is like being a resident of this area. Understanding art history helps us understand who we are and where we are going.
"When I got out of school, I did weddings but it was when my dad, Keith Edwards, got interested in the history of this area and the museum and had such a passion for it that I got interested. I was not interested in what he was interested in but I became a lot more interested in the area."
Edwards added that being interested in the people who live here and have lived here transitioned him into fine arts photography.
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"Most everything Edwards photographs is in this area. I am always amazed that there is so much beauty and variety right here," said Edwards.
In Montana a great many fine art photographers live west of the Rockies and take wonderful photographs of Glacier National Park and the Gallatin Valley and the like. What Edwards likes to do is to take better pictures and have more of a variety right here on the prairies and in the island mountain ranges.
Craig Edwards is married to Roberta who helps in the gallery. He is a third generation farmer which probably gives him another perspective to add to what and how he photographs.
Matter of fact farming has helped Craig's photography.
"I don't think that farming ever gets in the way of my photography. By being a farmer I live off the land and that that has given me a perspective I wouldn't otherwise have," said Edwards.
"I think that in order to photograph something you have to be a part of it. That is why I like being around the people of this area and photographing where they are said Edwards.
"When I create a photograph it is an opinion. Everyone has an opinion. I am lucky enough to be able to share my opinion in the form of an image," said Edwards.
Look around the walls of your house. Are you teaching your kids opinions of Montana by the art on your walls? There is no better way to get through life for you and your entire family than to be able to look at a few Powell's or an Edwards in your own home along the way
